After a time she drew close to his side, and with great, yet childlike gracefulness, presented him with a flower from her dress, saying:
"I made this bouquet for you. Papa says no one can make a button-hole—why he calls it so, I don't know—like me."
So Derval gallantly kissed the little bouquet, and placed it in the lapelle of his naval coat.
Ere he left, Lord Oakhampton, thawing considerably in his somewhat measured manner—a manner born, as Derval knew, of circumstances far remote from Bermuda—assured him, that if he could do aught for him in anyway, to command his services. Very pleasant all this, thought Derval, who supposed he had no true friends in the world save his shipmates on board the Amethyst; but remembering his father's feud and claims, he returned thanks very reservedly and took his departure.
For certain reasons, chiefly family considerations, and his own dislike of all fuss and speculation, Derval said nothing of his adventure, or his visit to Government House, on board the Amethyst, which lay at Ireland Island, the chief place there for shipping; thus, great was the astonishment of his "skipper," when an officer in undress military uniform arrived from Hamilton, the chief town of these isles, with an official letter addressed to "Captain Talbot, H.M. Royal Naval Reserve."
"For you, sir," said the aide-de-camp.
"From whom, sir?"
"His Excellency the Governor."
Captain Talbot was rather, as he afterwards told, "taken aback," but he said:
"Won't you have a glass of sherry and a biscuit, sir?"